FAQ

Q: Is the CTS a combination of Judo, Karate, and Kung-fu?

A: No, the CTS is a science, always evolving, whereas Judo, Karate, and Kung-fu are traditional martial arts, practised for preserving traditional customs, and more recently, for sports competition consisting of a ring, rules, referees, and an unarmed single opponent. This is in total contrast to Sudden Reality-Based Street-Confrontations, where you might be attacked by a gang of hoodlooms who are armed & there won’t be referees to disqualify them. To the observer, our combat tactics may appear similar to other martial arts, but, to the trained-eye, the applications of our tactics, the strategy, the principles, and the motives behind them are altogether different.

Q: Is the CTS far superior to other martial arts?

A: The CTS or any other martial arts for that matter are meant to be practised, not discussed! Comparisons are unfair because situations differ according to circumstances, so tactics applied effectively in one situation might not work with the same results in a different one. Each form of martial arts has its own plus points, but one must also learn to ADAPT their martial art for Realistic Self-Defence situations. This is what we teach. A martial artist must never be a prisoner of their martial art; they should EXPLORE other systems of fighting rather than be content and confined within the boundaries of their chosen system. Why? No particular martial art has all the answers, had this been so, there would have been only one supreme martial art; but, that is not the case, because each martial art has its own speciality and its own disability, and this is for the individual to explore.

Q: What are the special tactics used in the CTS?

A: We at the CTS do not categorize any tactic as a special one because however special a tactic may be, there are also numerous methods to counter it. Additionally, it depends on the type and numbers of attackers, location, atmosphere, and hour of the day/night. However, there are two major factors involved: Timing (read, Opportunity; your opponents must be struck when & where they least expect to be hit, and Ignorance (your opponents must be beaten with tactics which they are not familiar with; this will confuse them). These are the Special Tactics. Being unpredictable is the rule of the thumb. Never be ethical either, as there are no rules, no restrictions, and no limitations during realistic fighting incidents. It does not matter who is right; what counts is who is left. This is the Ultimate Truth.

Q: What is the ultimate purpose of the CTS?

A: The ultimate purpose of the CTS is to prepare an individual to AVOID, NEUTRALIZE, and STRIKE BACK effectively against the type of sudden violence that one encounters on the streets. The CTS training methods consist of simple tactics that a person can easily remember all the time and rapidly apply (REACT) during the heat of a confrontation because at that particular moment it is very difficult to remember complicated techniques and apply them effectively. The ultimate purpose is to teach the student to DEFEND THEMSELVES and not to DEFEAT the attacker because in a Real fight you are not fighting for Medals, you are fighting for your LIFE, which is far more precious than all the medals in the world put together.

It is also very important to note that during a Real confrontation many biological changes take place in ourselves that severely disturb our Physiological as well as Psychological set-up, which results in the lack of the fine-tuning of our motor skills, and slow-paced working of the mind (concentration lapses). Your reactions tend to become slower, focusing and body-balance may also be impaired. Other factors such as tunnel vision and tunnel hearing also crop up; hence, we don’t burden our students with techniques that they will easily forget or be unable to apply in the heat of a ‘No-Rule Bare- Knuckle Street-Confrontation’. All this may not sound ‘tough enough’ but this is a fact and it happens with every human being, irrespective of how tough they are physically, psychologically, and spiritually; the number of street-fights they have fought in; or the number of championship titles they have earned. Realistic Self-defense is a totally different scenario that one is faced with when it is least expected and at times with strangers, one has not previously met. Secondly, we do not expect the student to continue training for years to come. We focus on teaching a few important techniques that can be learnt in a short span of time. Another important purpose is to cultivate in the individual a strong formidable spirit and to teach them the anatomy of an actual street-confrontation.

Q: Is the CTS an offensive fighting system?

A: Whether to remain defensive or to go into attacking mode depends largely on the situation. Our initial and primary strategy is to AVOID the dangerous situation, then attempt to NEUTRALIZE it; this is the DEFENSIVE mode. But IF the situation demands, we have the option to Destruct, Disable, or Destroy the attacker; this is the OFFENSIVE mode. Thus, the CTS is a balanced system.

Q: Is the CTS a new self-defence method?

A: No, the CTS is not a new method; only our approach is unique. The systems of punching, kicking, throwing, etc., have been in existence since time immemorial. We at the CTS have fused these systems together as one unit for use in Actual-Combat situations, rather than labelling each element as ‘this is this’. The CTS is neither a ‘this’ nor a ‘that’; it is your self-expression (Reaction) to a given moment during a sudden violent attack. Unlike other fighting systems, which take longer to master, the CTS can be learnt by anyone in a shorter period, because the tactics are simple and direct. Since the CTS blends with all other fighting systems, imparting the CTS at your martial arts academy will benefit students regardless of their age or personal style of fighting.

Q: What is the classification of the CTS?

A: Due to the diversity of the systems inherent in the CTS, the latter cannot be easily classified, but, for the sake of theory, we shall classify a single system within the CTS. Take for example the Ground-Fighting System. It can be classified into 4 categories, namely, Immobilized Holds, Submission Holds, Strangulations, and Chokes, in addition to the Joint-Locks. Of these, take for example Joint-Locks. This can be further classified into 5 categories, namely, Arm-Locks, Leg-Locks, Spine-Locks, Joint-Lock-Throwing, and Neck-Breaks. Now, from these, let us classify the Arm-Locks alone, which consist of a myriad of Punishing fingerlocks, Wrist-Locks, Wrist-Cranks, Elbow-Locks, and Shoulder-Locks. We could thus go on and on sub-classifying the entire CTS; in the end, it will serve no purpose but to fill large volumes. The point we are trying to make here is that what is important is not the number of tactics that you know, but, the study and selection of the ones that you are confident will take care of yourself during a Sudden Encounter.

We encourage our participants to learn the CTS by tailoring the techniques to fit their individual requirements (that is, adapting the techniques for real-combat according to ones Body-Structure and the Environment). Even if you know 1,000 tactics, how many of these are you going to USE and remember during a sudden Realistic-Violent Encounter? Are you going to use 1,000 tactics in a 30-second physical confrontation? Then again, this does not imply that the CTS is a One-Punch -Kill System like some traditional styles. We do not advice our students to rely on the One-Punch-Kill approach because if it does not work, then what? A well-trained person should have other options to back up their weaknesses; therefore, our students are exposed to a myriad of tactical systems that can be executed effectively on the mean streets.

Q: Why join the CTS when there are other martial arts taught by high ranking masters?

A: Although we respect traditional martial arts, we are open to changes also. Would you fight in World War III with World War I technologies? Most of the instructors today teach ancient traditional martial arts, which is fine if ones objective of learning the art is for preserving the beautiful, traditional customs and for developing the mind, body, and spirit. And some instructors teach competitive martial sports, which are very spectacular and help in achieving excellent fitness levels. However, emphasis is on techniques suitable to competition rules and Realistic Self-Defence tactics are seldom taught, fearing that the student might get used to these tactics and get disqualified in a competition. The CTS approach is 180 degrees opposite to the above two approaches. It advocates neither tradition nor sports competition; its sole purpose being ‘use what is practical’. The CTS does not depend on Physical Tactics either, but, focuses its training on the various levels of Awareness, the types of Attitudes, methods of Controlling the Adrenaline Rush, and the development of one’s Ability to defend oneself during the actual phases of sudden Realistic-Violent Encounters. The CTS evolves with the changing times, rather than blindly following any traditions or encouraging its students to win over others. This new method is based on our experience that the way you are trained is the way you will Fight ‘No-Rules, No-Points, No-Time-Limits’. Anything goes!

Q: How long does it take to become a Black belt in the CTS?

A: Belts are not awarded in the CTS; we do not want our students to be highly-ranked unskilled victims. Our sole purpose is to train-up students for Reality-Based Self-Defence. However, we do conduct gradations to evaluate our students’ progress. Beginner’s, Intermediates, and Advanced Course certifications are awarded only to those deserving candidates who are sincere, dedicated, hardworking, and proficient. However, students who qualify are advised to continue their training and attempt for the Specialized Instructors Course that takes another 6 months. On being certified as a full-fledged instructor, one is encouraged to start ones own CTS Training Centre, conduct CTS Seminars/Workshops, Private Tuitions, etc.

Q: But does that make the CTS legitimate?

A: Yes. We train-up our students to face Reality-Based Street Aggression. We prepare them for the truth. Is TRUTH illegitimate? We teach our students to protect themselves against hardcore criminals, thieves, rapists, sadists, muggers, kidnappers, etc. The attacker’s sole intention is to either rip you apart or take your life if you don’t succumb to their orders. They dominate, threaten and play with your life, and that’s absolutely illegitimate. If you allow them to go scot-free, they will later go on to commit heinous crimes on other innocent people. Life is precious, and as long as the CTS allows one the ability to protect one’s life from the gallows of death, it cannot be deemed to be anything but legitimate. The CTS, if properly learnt and practised on a regular basis, can aid you in your need of the hour by saving your life, your honour, and your ideals; this is what makes the CTS a legitimate Self-Protection system, in the truest sense of the word. Legitimacy lies in ones skill to defend oneself, not in displaying certificates on the walls; remember: the attacker on the mean streets out there does not care what ‘Rank’ you hold or which Grandmaster you represent.

Q: Is the CTS based on any philosophies?

A: Yes. The CTS was established for law-abiding citizens. Respect the Law. Our main philosophy insists that you never take the law in your own hands by getting involved in UNNECESSARY physical fights. We emphasize on avoiding the situation or trying to neutralize it, and if, and only if the odds are against you, then, as a final option, you may fight physically, or else you might get injured. The CTS philosophy propagates the teaching of a minimal number of techniques that can be applied to a variety of attacks, rather than the teaching/use of a large number of different, unrelated techniques.

Q: What are the origins of the CTS, and who is the founder?

A: In the new millennium 2002, the CTS was formulated in India by a Martial Artist named Arvind Khaire, who was quick to realize that sparring in a martial arts class and fighting for your life on the concrete pavements were drastically two different things. So, taking this fact totally into consideration, he seriously started thinking, analyzing, researching, and gaining experience, keeping these crucial factors in mind. The result was the CTS, which was formed to pave a new direction for the layman seriously interested in learning Realistic Self-Defence. It was not with an intention to promote himself as some Grandmaster that Khaire discovered a new system. No! Khaire does not proclaim himself as such. Not now, or ever in the future, because Arvind Khaire is a simple man with a clear-thinking mind that is totally focused. He is always discovering through practice, & improving through experiences, ever updating his innovative concept, appropriately termed the CTS, short for Combat Tactical Systems.